One Tank Trip for Wyoming Camping

Wyoming is one of the last states where you can get a taste of the American frontier; it’s truly the Land of Adventure, where magnificent natural spectacles abound everywhere you look. You can go dog sledding across expanses of pure, unspoiled snow, or ski and snowboard down some truly adrenaline-inducing slopes. Summertime is ideal for hiking, or gaining that one-of-a-kind view from the rocky peak you’ve climbed. Maybe you want to paddle a kayak out to the middle of one of the glassy-surfaced lakes and just sit and listen to the sounds of nature. All of this, and so much more, is among the many options offered by the Equality State.

The town of Dayton is a perfect place to spend a day or two treating your senses to the rich palette of colors and smells associated with Wyoming camping. Camping is Dayton’s main attraction, and the town is perfectly situated to provide visitors with some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Wyoming. Heading east on the US-14 for 7 miles brings you to the eastbound I-90, which is the route you’ll take the remaining 15 miles into Sheridan, your next one tank trip destination. This town’s popularity as a vacation destination does nothing but increase every year, and it’s easy to understand why. In the winter months the flat land and slopes are blanketed with snow, which draws skiers, snowboarders and snowmobiling enthusiasts to the area. The rest of the year, the region’s many trails comprise a mazelike network that gives ample opportunity to get back to nature. The town’s Historic Main Street area is definitely worth investigating, especially the unusual shops that specialize in locally made arts and crafts, and Western gear.

Continuing east for 30 miles on the I-90 takes you into a sportsmen’s paradise; the town of Buffalo. The Bighorn Mountains loom large over the city, and provide a fantastic environment for hunting, fishing, camping, or just relaxing. The town itself has several historic buildings worth checking out, including the Hitching Post Gallery, which was originally built near the turn of the 20th century and has been a butcher shop, grocery store, barber shop, and jewelry store. It now serves as a gallery for the works of local artisans; ironically, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, it’s never been an actual hitching post. Old West fans will enjoy the Gatchell Museum, which features more than 15,000 genuine items from the days of cowboys and outlaws. Buffalo also makes an excellent starting point for visiting other historic sites in the immediate vicinity, like Fort Phil Kearney and the most famous of all locations, the “Hole in the Wall”, which served as the hideout for bank and train robbers Robert LeRoy Parker and Harry Longabaugh, better known as the legendary outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Take a leisurely 70-mile cruise east on the I-90, through the picture postcard Wyoming scenery until you come to Gillette, which has been considered the energy capital of our nation due to its supply of coal, oil, and natural gas. As such, there are fascinating tours of the mines and mining operations available for the interested visitor, and the Rockpile Museum has several displays of mining equipment and Native American artifacts from the region’s history. There are some excellent wildlife viewing opportunities in Gillette as well, especially bird watching, but it’s really a good place to spot some bears, if you’re feeling brave. A less risky proposition is fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout in the Upper Green River, or hiking along the trails of the Wind River Range.

Moving further east on the I-90 for 27 miles brings you to the US-14, which takes you 26 miles to the WY-24. Take this highway the remaining 6 miles to America’s very first national monument, Devils Tower. The surrounding park covers more than 1,300 acres of forests and grasslands, and rises well over 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River. You’ve probably seen this imposing rock formation in various movies, including its most famous appearance in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but even the magic of Hollywood can’t compare to the natural magic that formed this red rock monolith. You'll find some great Wyoming camping spots here too.

Come see for yourself the wonders that await you in Wyoming, but make sure to hold onto your socks, because a Wyoming one tank trip may blow them off!